Top recommendations for places to check out in St Augustine

Walking down the dreaded St George. We love the rest of the streets, but St George, not so much.

In my last post I described the reasons why we enjoy getting away to St Augustine a couple of times per year. Today, I am just going to recap our top recommended things to do and  places to eat.

Before I get started, I should address St George Street. It is basically the main pedestrian drag down the historic part of St Augustine. This little road is where all the tourists pour into. And because of this, it is probably our least favorite part of the historic district. If what you know of St Augustine is walking down this street to look at souvenir shops and eat at these restaurants and you didn’t like it, I can understand. I wouldn’t either. We avoid it as much as possible. Sometimes we have to go through sections of it to get a popsicle at the Hyppo or visit the Colonial Quarter, but just walking down the street for the sake of pleasure? Never.

These would be the places that we would recommend if someone I knew was going to St Augustine for the first time with kids in tow. Because, let’s get real. Sometimes it’s just not the same.If you go often, these are probably not new to you, but if you have never been or it has been a long time, then you might be in for a treat.

1. Old Town Trolley Tour – If you have ever been to St Augustine, you know the ubiquitous green trolley. In fact, it seems they are taking over tourism in the city as they have recently acquired and renovated the wax museum and you see their little stands everywhere. But I have to say, starting a visit with a trolley tour is a great idea. While the trolley is taking you around, they are filling you in on the history of St Augustine and the distinct neighborhoods. Did you know St Augustine was very much a part of the Civil Rights movement and that Dr Martin Luther King Jr marched in the streets here? Well, if you took the trolley tour you would 🙂 And, your kids would not bother you while you are listening and learning because they will be loving the cool breeze and all the scenery. Win win.

2. Castillo de San Marco – There is something for everyone. For the adults, it is the history and the gorgeous view of the water, with the sailboats and ships going by. The staff dresses in period costumes and give lively tours. For the kids, it’s the fact that they are going into a fort. What’s great about it is how huge it is, which lets the kids move around and run around imagining that they are defending their castle from pirates. It’s good to time your visit for when they shoot the cannons. Plug your ears though…it is LOUD! You know what else is great? Sitting down for a picnic or a snack on the big lawn outside the fort.

3. The Lighthouse – The lighthouse is also a wonderful family stop. St Augustine being the oldest city in America, there is a lot to learn about our country’s oldest port. But really, the best part is climbing the 200+ steps to the tippy top to see the view. It’s definitely worth going on a clear and sunny day to make the most of it. When you are done, there is a little park across the street where the kids can run and climb trees as well as a fishing dock on the water.

4. SWING Park – We integrate a visit to SWING park on most of our visits. Why? Because it is an awesome playground with tons of space to run and use your imagination. And most of all, expend your child’s bundled up energy stores. Take them here before heading to dinner so they will work up an appetite and get the wiggles out. On our most recent visit, Brian took the boys here while I was exploring the Uptown San Marco shopping district. Everyone was happy. The boys played, Brian relaxed and I popped into interesting shops and boutiques nearby.

5. Camping at Anastasia State Park – Anastasia State Park is a great camping destination. Even though it feels secluded, its location is excellent if you want to leave the park at any time to enjoy the rest of the city. I would recommend sticking to November – March, when the weather is cool/mild. I don’t think I would feel the same about it in the summertime. Bring your bikes and ride around and go explore the beach. Do not miss the farmer’s market that is held every Saturday at the amphitheater that is connected to the park. Oh yeah, and make sure your campsite is raccoon-proof.

Like I mentioned in the last post, we love to keep going back to the favorites but keep adding new places to check out next time we are in town. Just a few of the places on our list to visit next time are: Lightner Museum, tour of Flagler College and Fort Mose State Park.  Guess we’ll just have to come back again soon.

Posted by Ale & filed under Travel. This post has 4 comments.